Toy playset with a launcher and a material dispenser

Abstract

In some examples, a toy vehicle playset for a toy vehicle is provided with a track assembly including a vehicle launcher operatively connected to a track. The track defines a travel path, and there is a dispensing assembly including a release mechanism positioned adjacent a portion of the track. A trigger assembly is operably connected to the vehicle launcher and the release mechanism so that activation of the trigger assembly may simultaneously activate the vehicle launcher and the release mechanism.

We claim: 
     
       1. A toy vehicle playset for a toy vehicle comprising:
 a track assembly including a vehicle launcher operatively connected to a track defining a travel path; 
 a dispensing assembly configured to releasably retain a dispensable material, including a release mechanism positioned adjacent a portion of the track remote from the vehicle launcher; and 
 a trigger assembly operably connected to the vehicle launcher and the release mechanism via one or more biased trigger members, wherein activation of the trigger assembly simultaneously activates the vehicle launcher and the dispensable material release mechanism; 
 wherein the track assembly is configured so that the simultaneous activation of the vehicle launcher and the release mechanism results in an interaction between a launched vehicle and a dispensed material at the remote portion of the track. 
 
     
     
       2. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism includes a moveable release member having an open position and activation of the trigger assembly simultaneously launches the toy vehicle and moves the moveable release member to the open position. 
     
     
       3. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 2 , wherein the trigger assembly includes a manually operable trigger adjacent the vehicle launcher and distal the moveable release member. 
     
     
       4. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 2 , wherein the dispensing assembly includes a tank and a support assembly for supporting the tank above the remote portion of the track, the tank having a bottom portion including the moveable release member. 
     
     
       5. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 4 , wherein the dispensing assembly includes a cascade member on the underside of the tank bottom portion, the cascade member configured to distribute the dispensed material released from the tank. 
     
     
       6. A toy playset for a thermochromatic toy comprising:
 a toy launcher configured to launch a thermochromatic toy along a travel path; 
 a dispenser adjacent the travel path configured to releasably retain a color changing material; and 
 a trigger operably connected to the toy launcher and the dispenser via one or more biased trigger members, wherein activation of the trigger simultaneously launches the thermochromatic toy along the travel path and releases the color changing material from the dispenser into the travel path, so that the thermochromatic toy and the color changing material interact along the travel path. 
 
     
     
       7. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 6 , wherein the dispenser is configured to releasably retain water. 
     
     
       8. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 6 , wherein the dispenser includes a tank and a support assembly for supporting the tank above the travel path. 
     
     
       9. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 6 , wherein the trigger is adjacent the toy launcher and distal the dispenser. 
     
     
       10. A toy vehicle playset for a toy vehicle comprising:
 a track assembly including a vehicle launcher activatable to launch a toy vehicle, attached to a track defining a travel path for a toy vehicle; 
 a water dispenser assembly including a tank and a support assembly for supporting the tank above the track, the tank having a moveable release member at a bottom portion of the tank configured to release water; and 
 a trigger assembly operably connected to the vehicle launcher and the moveable release member by at least one biased trigger member, wherein activation of the trigger assembly launches the toy vehicle and moves the moveable release member to an open position; 
 wherein the vehicle launcher and the moveable release member are configured to be activated simultaneously, and the track assembly is configured so that the simultaneous activation of the vehicle launcher and the moveable release member results in an interaction between the launched vehicle and the released water at a point along the track remote from the vehicle launcher. 
 
     
     
       11. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 10 , wherein the dispensing assembly includes a cascade member on the underside of the tank bottom portion, the cascade member configured to distribute water released from the tank. 
     
     
       12. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 10 , wherein the track is elevated above a work surface and the tank is supported above a first opening in the track. 
     
     
       13. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 12 , wherein the dispenser assembly includes a removable first reservoir positionable under the first opening in the track. 
     
     
       14. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 13 , wherein the removable first reservoir includes a handle and a curved lip portion configured for pouring water. 
     
     
       15. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 12 , wherein the track includes a second opening, the second opening sized such that the vehicle can pass through and a trapdoor movable between a closed position in which the trapdoor is positioned in the second opening and aligned with and forms a part of the track and an open position in which the trapdoor is removed from the second opening, the trapdoor being sized to support the toy vehicle when the trapdoor is in the closed position. 
     
     
       16. The play set of  claim 15 , further comprising a second reservoir disposed below the trapdoor for receiving a vehicle passing through the second opening when the trapdoor is in the open position. 
     
     
       17. The toy vehicle playset of  claim 12 , wherein the first opening in the track includes a splash guard.